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Lindsay McMahon
This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2611 how to direct someone's attention with enthusiasm
Podcast Host / Narrator
welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American hosts like Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the All Ears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.
Michelle Kaplan
Enthusiasm is a key piece needed for connection, especially when you see something you are excited about. In today's episode, learn how to bring people in on the excitement in English.
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Lindsay McMahon
Hey Michelle, how's it going?
Michelle Kaplan
Hi, Lindsay. Check it out. I got new earrings.
Lindsay McMahon
Very impressive. Very impressive, guys.
Michelle Kaplan
If you are watching on YouTube, you will see that I am not wearing any earrings. But for the purpose of the role play.
Lindsay McMahon
We were just kidding. Just joking around. Here, here.
Michelle Kaplan
Just joking, just joking.
Lindsay McMahon
But what's interesting here is what you said before you showed me your earrings. What did you say, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
I said check it out.
Lindsay McMahon
Check it out. It's kind of fun to say that, right?
Michelle Kaplan
It is.
Lindsay McMahon
Yep.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. So today we're gonna focus on how to tell someone to look at something in a very enthusiastic way to draw their attention to something.
Lindsay McMahon
Yes, totally. So this could be drawing their attention to something visual or even something you're listening to. I mean, maybe check it out and then you hand them a headphone. Could be right. Or you turn up the volume on something. Yeah. And it could just be saying, you know, please pay attention to this. This is interesting. Yeah. Directing someone's attention to something. Right, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And this is. I mean, you hear this all the time. This is extremely common. I use it. Lindsay, I'm sure you use it.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. Even in. Even in work emails. I would use it to send you, like, if we got new reviews. I write for them to you. And we love reviews, by the way, guys, leave your review.
Michelle Kaplan
Whatever you listen, I would forward them to you.
Lindsay McMahon
I said, check it out. We got four new listener reviews. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Exactly. Yes, exactly. Or here's another example. Check it out. The dress is on sale now. So maybe I've been waiting, we're shopping together and. And like, oh, wait, it's on sale.
Lindsay McMahon
But the key piece that I think is really important for our listeners to know about this phrase is that you have to be in. In the presence of the thing. Right? Right. You have to be in the presence of the thing, the dress. Maybe you're walking past the store and you see it on display. Or it can't just be like talking about a dress and you want to go to the mall. And unless you, like, see it in a catalog and say, oh, it's on sale. Do you know what I mean? It has to be around somewhere so someone can actually. Right.
Michelle Kaplan
You want to just sit. Say that conceptually.
Lindsay McMahon
Exactly. Yeah, yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Or check it out. There's a new restaurant opening down the street. So again, the restaurant, we would either. Maybe it's possible. Maybe you're scrolling Instagram and you see an ad for it or you're actually walking.
Lindsay McMahon
Right.
Michelle Kaplan
You know, either one.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, exactly. Why do you think this is good for connection, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
I think this shows enthusiasm and it shows that, you know, the person will be interested in some way in what you have to show them. So it actually, to me, it shows a little bit of confidence. Right. I'm like, I. I think you'll be excited, too.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
I think you're interested.
Lindsay McMahon
Like, you have the confidence to say, hey, look at this thing. This is interesting to me. It probably will be to you too, right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Yep, yep. And you can also say check out something. Right? Instead of just check it out, you can say check out something. So, for example, check out this guitar. So solo. It's incredible, right? We're listening to a song together, and I'm excited to have you hear it. And they say, oh, check out this guitar solo.
Lindsay McMahon
Exactly. Or check out her nails. Aren't they gorgeous? So this is again, you're just. You're again, drawing someone's attention to go over and look at the nails, Lindsay.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, wait, we've talked about this before. I don't know if it was on the show or not, but do you get your nails done?
Lindsay McMahon
I did when I got married. Yeah, me too.
Michelle Kaplan
I think that may have been the last time.
Lindsay McMahon
I did it once for a photo shoot last year. So I'll do it like once a year if I have something where my hands are gonna matter.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
But no, honestly, it's interesting. When I traveled to Japan, I lived in Japan. I noticed, you know, if you take something like nails, there's a lot of emphasis on nails is what I noticed at that time. This was 20 years ago, so it might be different now. And I think in the US we might. I don't know, it might be less common, but it also depends on the person. Whereas here, like, teeth are super important, like dental work and things like that.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
Which is not the same all over the world. So. Really interesting how these things can vary, don't you think?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Definitely these cosmetic things. Or check out my moves. I've been practicing my three point shot for weeks.
Lindsay McMahon
Love that.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
So there is a certain confidence, especially when you say check it out, right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Right.
Lindsay McMahon
A certain level.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
Just confidence in love, of life, I guess.
Michelle Kaplan
I mean, Lindsay, what might you tell someone? Like, check it out or check out this? Like, what are you excited about when you.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, if I've come up with something creative and I can show it physically, or if I've solved a problem or maybe I've cooked something and I'm proud of it. Something I'm proud of, I'm excited about.
Michelle Kaplan
You're proud of. Yeah, I like that.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. For me, it's also. I realize I use this a lot because, you know, moving to a new area, when you find something new. Yeah. So there's always something, you know. Oh, wow. Check it out. Like, I didn't realize that this restaurant was here or something like that. Right, right.
Lindsay McMahon
A discovery. So it really has a note of enthusiasm and maybe pride. Maybe pride too.
Michelle Kaplan
Right. Definitely.
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Lindsay McMahon
Okay, so other things we might say, like if I were to send you our new reviews, right? We might say, look at this, look at that, look at these, right? Look at this. I finished my project,
Michelle Kaplan
right? Or instead of check it out, you could also say, check this out, check this out. I found my diary from middle school. So, yeah, I'm not sure what the difference is there exactly, but I think it's maybe a little more emphatic. You're kind of taking a little more time to say it, right. Instead of just check it out, right?
Lindsay McMahon
This is.
Michelle Kaplan
Check this out.
Lindsay McMahon
Well, I also think that the thing. The.
Michelle Kaplan
This.
Lindsay McMahon
The diary is more of a rare object. Maybe like an unexpected rare object. Yeah, right. Like, if you. Let's say I want to go rock hunting in the mountains and I find this really rare rock, I might say, check this out. Look at this rock. Look how interesting it is with the veins and things. So the thing is a little bit more noteworthy than just check it out. I found a rock.
Michelle Kaplan
Right. Lindsay, did you keep a diary when you were a kid?
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, yeah, I definitely did. Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Do you have it? Do you know where it is?
Lindsay McMahon
No, no. I've lost all my diaries or thrown them out over the years, but I definitely feel like I just kind of. Today I went to school and I came home. It was just very basic.
Michelle Kaplan
You know, I used to write down, like, the time in which it took me to write the entry. Like, I would say, like, writing from 10:15 to 10:30. I don't know why.
Lindsay McMahon
Planning to be, like, a reporter or something. A reporter from the Middle East.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Everyone needs all of this information so they know that's funny.
Lindsay McMahon
So what else could we say, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
You could say see this or see that. Right? So see this? It's a picture of my great, great grandmother, for sure. Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
I mean, and. And again, these are flexible, right? So you have a lot of leeway, a lot of wiggle room in terms of what we use here. But I think the key theme that's arising for me, Michelle, is enthusiasm. Enthusiasm and maybe pride, Right? Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
It's really, really interesting how we use all of these, but. Yeah. So let's do a role play. So, Lindsay, here we are on a safari.
Lindsay McMahon
Ooh, check this out. Right? Very cool. Something new. I love it.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, yes, exactly. Something new. All right, here we go. All right, Lindsay, check it out. Those lions are running over there.
Lindsay McMahon
Wow. Incredible.
Michelle Kaplan
Whoa. Whoa. Look at that.
Lindsay McMahon
That cheetah Is eating.
Michelle Kaplan
This is an amazing experience. See that? I think there are some giraffes over there.
Lindsay McMahon
That's so cute. Check this out. I can't believe my camera is so good.
Michelle Kaplan
So amazing shot.
Lindsay McMahon
Wow. Good. Okay, great. So that was fun. I feel like I went on a little safari with you, Michelle. A little mini vacation to Africa.
Michelle Kaplan
Or have you been on this party?
Lindsay McMahon
No, I would love to. One day. One day.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
So we started off by saying. You said, lindsay, check it out. Those lions are running over there. So you're seeing these lions running, and you're drawing my attention. And again, enthusiasm. If you're not enthusiastic on a safari, I don't know when you're going to be enthusiastic.
Michelle Kaplan
Right.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Then. Then you said, whoa, look at that. That cheetah is eating.
Lindsay McMahon
And then he said, this is an amazing experience. See that? I think there's some giraffes over there.
Michelle Kaplan
And then he said, oh, so cute. And then he said, check this out. I can't believe my camera is so good. So what am I talking about? What are you talking about?
Lindsay McMahon
I'm talking about the photo that I just took. Yeah. Probably in this scenario, I went ahead and I snapped a photo of those giraffes, and then. And now I'm saying, check this out. So it's not the drafts again. It's the first photo of the giraffes.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Yeah. Right. So interesting. And this sounded completely natural, you know, like using all of these. I mean, you. I mean, especially when you're traveling, you might say, oh, look at that. You're on a tour or something like that, you know, constantly. Look at that. Oh, my gosh, look at this. Right?
Lindsay McMahon
The coolest feeling when you. I don't know, you go to a place so many exotic and different, and like, the first day you're just like, oh, God, check this out. Look at that. I can't believe that. Look over there. You're like a kid in a candy store or something. It's true.
Michelle Kaplan
That's true.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
So, guys, check out episode 2590. We did three tips to keep your accent and be understood with Valerie Fridland. Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
That was the conversation that. That Aubry had with Valerie and can't wait for our listeners to listen and give us some feedback on that episode. Really good. Michelle. Today's takeaway for me is. Is about, well, showing enthusiasm in life. There are a lot of things in life that are really worth checking out and being excited about and highlighting like this, don't you think?
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, yeah. And again. And you should just as a side point, make sure that you reflect it and how your voice sounds. You're not going to get anyone's attention. You can say check it out until the cows go home. But if you say. If you just say check it out. Right. No, like what? Like it just doesn't match. You have to match the excitement of the expression.
Lindsay McMahon
And you should, because whatever you're saying, you want people to look at you.
Michelle Kaplan
Exactly.
Lindsay McMahon
It struck you as something interesting. Right. So yeah, there you go. So that's really the connection skill today is how to show enthusiasm and how to direct someone's attention to something. Okay. In a very natural way. Love it.
Michelle Kaplan
Exactly. All right, Lindsay. Well, this was fun. Hopefully we'll go on a safari one day together and I'll talk to you soon.
Lindsay McMahon
Sounds good, Michelle. Talk soon.
Michelle Kaplan
Bye. All right, bye.
Podcast Host / Narrator
Thanks for listening. To all ears.
Lindsay McMahon
English.
Podcast Host / Narrator
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Title: How to Direct Someone's Attention With Enthusiasm
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan
Release Date: May 5, 2026
In this episode, Lindsay and Michelle explore engaging ways to direct someone’s attention in English—especially with energy and excitement. They highlight the importance of enthusiasm for building connections and introduce listeners to practical phrases like “check it out,” “look at this,” and “see that.” The episode is filled with real-world examples, cultural insights, and lively banter, helping learners pick up not only language skills but the spirit behind the words.
Enthusiasm as Connection Tool:
Michelle opens by emphasizing that enthusiasm is essential for connection, especially when sharing something exciting.
Why Enthusiasm Matters:
Both hosts agree: When you ask someone to “check it out,” you’re not just pointing something out; you’re inviting them into your excitement and implicitly expressing confidence in both yourself and the person's interest.
Core Phrase – “Check it out”:
Nuanced Alternatives:
Other Examples:
Presence Matters:
The thing you want someone to “check out” should be present or easily accessible—either physically, visually, or audibly.
Cultural Differences:
The hosts discuss how different cultures may focus on different cosmetic features (e.g., nails in Japan, dental work in the U.S.) and the potential impact on small talk topics.
Confidence & Pride:
Using phrases like these often signals confidence and personal pride in what’s being shared.
This episode encourages English learners to harness the power of enthusiasm in daily communication. Whether you’re sharing a discovery, pointing out a cool event, or sending a proud update, using direct attention phrases with genuine excitement not only improves your English but strengthens your connections with others.
“That’s really the connection skill today: how to show enthusiasm and how to direct someone’s attention to something in a very natural way. Love it.” – Lindsay ([13:24])
For more on accent and clarity, check out episode 2590: “Three Tips to Keep Your Accent and Be Understood with Valerie Fridland.”